Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 228

Executive Meeting (4)

The idea of incorporating an enemy who had caused losses of hundreds of billions of cells into the board of directors was bizarre.

However, Lenok intuitively knew that Oliviera’s decision was based on a cold and rational judgment.

In any case, Oliviera herself was in a position where she couldn’t easily move due to external scrutiny.

At this moment, when it’s difficult to ascertain the full extent of Lenok’s power—a man who single-handedly massacred an execution squad, including an executive director—what was the best way to eliminate the risk to the organization?

If that risk was made her own, there would be no problem.

For Oliviera, the boundary between enemy and ally was meaningless.

When Lenok glared intently at Virgil, who stood with his hands behind his back in the corner of the platform, Virgil smiled slyly.

From his perspective, he hadn’t broken his promise with Lenok.

He had done his part to help resolve the matter, and decisively, the Cartel was no longer hostile to Lenok.

Although he thought Lenok was someone he couldn’t completely trust, he never imagined he would come out like this.

“I can’t watch this anymore……”

Lenok shook his head and took out his cell phone from his pocket.

He could guess what Oliviera was thinking by doing this.

If she was truly fascinated by Lenok’s talent or ability, she could have called him separately and talked to him instead of holding an executive meeting.

However, the fact that she made this kind of announcement in a situation where at least thousands of people and external eyes were watching meant that she intended to divert attention from the internal division of the organization and towards a new competitor.

It was as if she was trying to make everything that had happened so far look like a simple internal succession dispute, rather than a sign of the Cartel’s weakness.

[Antares.]

If there was a time for requests and promises, now was the moment to pull the chains that they had tied to each other.

If they were trying to bring Lenok to their side and make him act in a play, Lenok could just introduce a new character.

[Ready. Just set the timing.]

At the same time as Antares’ intrusion, Lenok would express his refusal to the chairman and use the five fingers of Enacfil to leave the hall.

Negotiations with her should be conducted secretly in a space where others’ eyes couldn’t reach, not in this openly exposed hall.

The important thing was the moment to call in a new helper.

It was obvious that he had to use his head well to finish the job smoothly without being checked by the chairman.

“……”

As he stood up with his cell phone in his hand, he could feel the gazes around him becoming even more intense.

The moment Lenok was about to move towards the platform.

“Who decided that on their own?”

A streak of black lightning struck down from the sky above the huge stadium.

Zzzzzzz-!!

The lightning that struck the very center of the platform drew a huge black wave and instantly covered the stadium.

From the center of the wave, a young man appeared as if a shadow was being lifted.

His appearance made it impossible to guess his age, and he had a somewhat delinquent tone.

Even that arrogant attitude that Lenok had never forgotten for a single moment.

There was no mistake.

The powerful black magician he had encountered after the battle with the Siger Bang gang and right after killing Eden.

Pandemonium had suddenly appeared in this place.

“……!!!”

There was no need to hesitate.

The moment he was about to take out the five fingers of Enacfil, Lenok felt a strong sense of incongruity and sharpened his senses.

The appearance of a member of Pandemonium. Moreover, such a noisy appearance.

It wouldn’t be strange if there was a commotion around him.

Yet, the area around Lenok was eerily quiet.

‘This is…….’

The people were stiff. Their calm expressions showed no sign of surprise.

Even though a member of Pandemonium had appeared before their eyes, they showed no reaction at all. But they weren’t completely stopped; they were moving very slowly.

Only then did Lenok realize what was happening and shuddered.

‘Is he accelerating only the consciousness within the space, making the surrounding time slow down in reverse……!!’

In that fleeting moment when the black lightning struck.

By setting the beginning and end of time, he accelerates the time of the existing spirit in between, creating a temporary world of consciousness that is separated from the surroundings.

The reason why the surrounding space didn’t stop completely but slowed down extremely was due to that influence.

Anyone without special mental resistance wouldn’t even be able to perceive this moment and would be bounced off.

‘Then……!!’

Thinking that far, Lenok turned his senses and checked the platform, and there was the scene he had expected.

In that stopped world where even the four directors were completely frozen, only Oliviera and the young man were facing each other.

Even in that accelerated world of consciousness, the two of them seemed to be unaffected.

She tilted her head slightly and looked up at the young man, speaking in an unpleasant voice.

[Myung…… It’s been a while since I’ve seen that face.]

‘He’s called Myung…….’

How exactly do the two of them look in the eyes of a completer who has completed his inner self as a perfect world?

It was a scene that Lenok couldn’t immediately fathom.

Myung didn’t answer her but instead stared down at her.

He twisted the corners of his mouth as he cast his gaze beyond Oliviera’s veil.

“Ha, I thought the real one was here, but it was just a phantom. How boring.”

[……What brings you here?]

Oliviera asked.

[As I said before, I have no intention of playing along with your nonsense. If you need attention, you’ve come to the wrong place, so go back.]

“I’m not interested in old geezers who are falling apart either. I thought your ‘research’ was all done.”

[…….]

“It doesn’t matter if your pathetic appearance hasn’t improved…… but don’t touch that one.”

[That one?]

“That one, that one.”

Myung nodded his head towards Lenok.

Oliviera’s eyes flashed deeply for a moment.

[Oh, I see. Even in Pandemonium-]

“Don’t be greedy, old hag.”

A cold smile appeared on Myung’s lips.

“You roughly understand what I’m saying, right?”

[……How absurd.]

Only then did Oliviera realize Myung’s intention and let out a hollow laugh.

He had no interest in Oliviera’s circumstances. It was just a pretext to show up in this place.

Don’t even think about keeping Lenok tied to the Cartel.

Myung had appeared in this place to warn her of that.

[I knew you liked talented sorcerers…… but I never thought it would be this much. Is he really worth that much?]

“Who knows?”

He gave a suspicious smile and slowly turned his back.

“But it’s definitely too good for just an old hag to have.”

[…….]

“I don’t care what position you give him in the Cartel. But if you try to do any annoying tricks for that petty organization……”

Myung’s eyes, which had been speaking, accurately captured Lenok and curved long.

Before he could even think about what the meaning of that smile was, his figure disappeared as if melting into the black wave.

“You better look forward to it.”

Only those last words echoed throughout the stadium, piercing the eardrums of those who belatedly regained their senses.

Virgil, who had quickly realized that something was wrong, raised his head towards the chairman.

“Chairman, this is……!”

[A truly precious guest has come and gone.]

Oliviera crossed her arms and slowly looked up at the sky.

The stadium’s electronic display board.

At the far end of the stadium, a woman in a black suit was looking down at this place.

The green light that melted into the cold air was glowing beyond her visor.

She felt the sharp and subtle murderous intent contained in that gaze and let out a small sigh.

[I should have maintained the precarious balance well…… I guess things don’t go as planned. If I waste more time here, I’ll get frostbite.]

“Then…….”

[The general meeting is suspended. The rest of the story…… I think I can hear it directly from that child.]

Oliviera’s gaze finally turned back to Lenok.

Lenok also silently looked up at her and put his cell phone in his pocket.

It seemed like there was no need to call Antares.

* * *

The general meeting, which had gathered thousands of executives and employees of the Cartel, ended with such unconventional declarations and actions.

Although an uninvited guest had turned the tables, not many people would have noticed it.

The method chosen by the black magician of Pandemonium was extremely sharp and meticulous, unlike his delinquent behavior.

He had delivered a message to Oliviera and, at the same time, demonstrated his will through a show of force.

The question was whether Lenok knew that he was listening to the conversation in the process.

Lenok didn’t know if Myung had intended even that.

While he was lost in thought, things progressed quickly.

After sending all the executives and employees of the Cartel back, Oliviera called Lenok directly to her inner sanctum.

Along with the four directors who assisted her.

First, Kansoa appeared with a suspicious smile, followed by Merilda.

“So, this is the guy named Ban.”

Merilda frowned as she stared at Lenok.

“I smell something bitter…… Do you grow some kind of herb?”

“……”

Lenok was also slightly surprised by the sight of the girl holding her nose and shaking her fluorescent hair.

He had been careful about mixing medicine until just before coming here, thinking that he might be noticed, but he never thought that she would notice the scent.

Lenok, who basically puts a lot of effort into not leaving any traces, even erases his own scent.

It meant that she had a sensory organ that could detect something beyond just smell…… It was interesting.

Before he could continue his thoughts, Virgil appeared next.

As soon as Virgil met Lenok’s eyes, he smiled slyly and turned his gaze away.

“I wish you wouldn’t look at me like that. I kept my promise. After today, the Cartel will not interfere with your business.”

“Is that what you call a promise?”

“It wouldn’t be a bad thing for you either? You must know how powerful the position of a Cartel director is.”

“……”

When Lenok closed his mouth, Virgil took off his sunglasses and smiled slyly.

“This wouldn’t have happened if the chairman didn’t like you. Well, the others don’t seem to like it very much……”

Crack!

As soon as those words were finished, a wide door opened and the last director, Parden McQueen, appeared.

The other directors all glared at him with murderous intent, but McQueen walked slowly to a corner with his eyes closed, without any agitation.

Only then did a woman appear in the spacious office, on a chair placed on a hill of stacked books.

[Everyone is here. There is a story left to tell, so I have taken the time myself.]

At Oliviera’s quiet words, all the directors bowed their heads at once.

Only Lenok checked her appearance and narrowed his brows.

‘Another illusion…….’

Where is she, and what is she doing that she doesn’t reveal her true self like this?

That must be Oliviera Ron Maze’s most fatal secret.

Perhaps, even all the actions she is taking now…….

While he was thinking, she opened her mouth again.

[As I said once at the general meeting, I was thinking of entrusting the management of the Cartel’s affiliates to the magician of District 49.]

She said that, took off the veil that covered her face, and revealed her face.

A woman’s face with thin lines.

A youth that is hard to believe for someone who has lived for hundreds of years.

But what catches the eye first is the light of the brilliant magic eye that shines completely with seven colors mixed together.

“……!”

Despite being a magic eye possessed by a clone, all the directors gathered in this place avoided that gaze.

[Originally, I was going to hear the answer directly on the spot…… but things in the world don’t go as planned. That’s why I want to ask again.]

[Do you have any intention of taking over McQueen’s position and spreading your wings under me?]

“……Hoo.”

Instead of answering, Lenok let out a small sigh.

She only asked about Lenok’s intentions after Pandemonium had directly intervened.

Like a monster who has lived for hundreds of years, she has a self-centered personality that has no interest in the other person’s intentions.

It wasn’t surprising.

The fact that she only showed up after the situation had escalated this far.

The fact that she only started moving after one of the directors betrayed her showed what kind of personality Oliviera had.

She was even asking for opinions after calmly calling even such a traitor into her office.

She was someone who shouldn’t be understood by the standards of ordinary people.

Then there was no reason for him to bow down.

Lenok crossed his arms and calmly retorted.

“I have no great interest in the corporate management of the Cartel.”

The directors all turned their gazes towards Lenok.

“This arrogant bastard……!!”

Merilda growled, baring her teeth.

Lenok ignored that gaze and opened his mouth.

“In the first place, the current situation started when McQueen interfered with my business. I have found the instigator of the situation and handed over the witness related to the betrayal, so I hope that it will be concluded by punishing the person in charge.”

He had no intention of fighting to the end with the Cartel and settling the grudge.

In the first place, it was a corporate alliance created by linking numerous affiliates.

Although they were bound by one name, the Cartel, the bond between the organizations wasn’t very strong.

The reason why Lenok was able to easily destroy the cooperative businesses was also because the connection between the organizations wasn’t very smooth.

If you count what they gave and took, the damage suffered by the Cartel was dozens of times more than what they had done.

In addition, if the Three Heads were really to collapse, the chaos that would occur in the process would bring unpredictable variables to Lenok and Jenny’s business.

It was a different story when the incident occurred, but now that the business expansion was going crazy with the potions Lenok had newly developed, the situation had changed a long time ago.

Lenok knew very well that he couldn’t destroy that giant right now, nor did he need to.

However, Oliviera smiled faintly even while listening to Lenok’s words.

[That’s not difficult, but…… are you sure?]

She knew very well that there were many people who coveted that magician, and that she couldn’t monopolize him alone.

The fact that the black magician, who had been indifferent to everything, had stepped forward meant that there were quite a few people watching Ban, even if he was excluded.

However, if she used the remaining grudges, it would be possible to create a connection.

[If you don’t deal with your grudge with McQueen, I intend to continue to appoint him as a director.]

“……”

[And even if McQueen does something similar again, there is no guarantee that I will be here.]

In Oliviera’s expression, who had taken off her veil, there was an undisguised joy.

It was as if she was having an unbearably fun time continuing the conversation with Lenok right now.

Lenok could easily read what she was thinking from that attitude.

If McQueen remained in his position as director and the chairman decided to let this matter go, he would eventually try to kill Lenok someday.

Rather than finishing the job while leaving an uncertain risk factor, settle the grudge in this place.

Oliviera was thinking of handing over the position of director to the magician named Ban in exchange for giving Lenok the opportunity to kill McQueen.